A fraud scheme raising serious questions about security in cash transactions and the criminal use of technology has come to light in Tirana. A 70-year-old man, the owner of a currency exchange, claims he handed over €100,000 after being convinced by a video call suspected of having been manipulated with artificial intelligence.
Two arrested, another person wanted
According to the official version, Brian Serica and Skerdi Meta have been arrested over the incident, while another person has been declared wanted.
The case is being investigated as an organized fraud scheme, while authorities have not yet provided a full picture of how contact was established with the victim and whether other people were involved.
How Bashkim Ulaj’s name was used
According to information published so far, the young men are suspected of having used the name of businessman Bashkim Ulaj to gain the trust of the 70-year-old.
They went to the exchange office and showed him a video call featuring a person who appeared to be the businessman. During the communication, the victim was asked to give the money to the young men, with the promise that the amount would be returned to him after a few hours.
The report came after the money was not returned
Suspicion turned into alarm only after the handed-over sum was not returned. At that point, the owner of the exchange contacted Bashkim Ulaj himself.
The businessman denied having made such a call. Only after this verification did the 70-year-old realize he had fallen victim to fraud and turn to the police.
Investigators suspect an AI-generated video
According to checks carried out by investigators and an analysis of security camera footage, the video call is suspected to have been created through artificial intelligence, using the businessman’s image to convince the victim.
The case highlights how vulnerable the currency exchange business remains to new forms of fraud, while institutions face a challenge that technology is making increasingly difficult to prevent and prove.
The investigation remains open to fully clarify the scheme, the way the manipulation was carried out, and the role of each person involved.
So far, what appears clear is that a video call that looks credible may be enough to move large sums of money, in an environment where control and verification appear to have failed.